Published: June 8, 2005

Philip DiStefano, interim chancellor of the University of Colorado at Boulder, will meet with Grand Junction officials from Mesa State College, the Mesa County Valley 51 School District and area legislators June 14-15 as part of a Western Slope tour.

Joining DiStefano will be faculty and students who represent some of CU-Boulder's exceptional educational programs and outreach projects.

DiStefano will meet with officials from the various organizations to solicit their input on academic programs of importance to western Colorado and to provide information about CU-Boulder programs and opportunities for incoming undergraduate and graduate students.

DiStefano also will share information on ways in which the Boulder campus positively impacts Colorado through its educational programs and the economic benefits of spin-off companies that result from research developments and student- and faculty-generated businesses.

"I am interested to hear from people in western Colorado about how CU-Boulder can better serve their needs through education, research and outreach," said DiStefano. "But I also want to reacquaint people with the positive resources of the university that benefit the entire state, from creating an educated populace to driving innovation in technology and new businesses that benefit the state as a whole."

DiStefano will end the first day's activities in Grand Junction June 14 with a 5:30 p.m. reception at the Double Tree Hotel, 743 Horizon Drive, to meet with alumni, students, parents and donors. For information call (303) 492-8908.

Other Western Slope cities in the June 13-16 tour include Montrose, Durango, and Steamboat Springs.